All Things Considered

Commonly referred to as "ATC" and a staple for afternoon commutes, NPR's nationally syndicated afternoon news magazine brings you closer to home with the presence of WAMU's local host.

Since May 3, 1971 All Things Considered has been produced every day from NPR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Featuring a mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features, "ATC" produces 2 hours of fresh content every day for hundreds of public radio stations around the United States.

Elliott Francis

Local Host, All Things Considered

Francis has worked alongside some of the most influential media executives in the U.S. during his 25 years as a news anchor, including FOX News President and Chairman Roger Ailes, former CNN Executive Vice President Ed Turner, and the founder and former CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, John H. Johnson. In 2002, shortly after joining the ABC news affiliate in Washington DC (WJLA-TV) as the morning co-anchor, Francis was thrust into the rigors of live, non-stop coverage of the DC sniper shootings and investigation, sometimes speaking 8-9 hours unscripted. A skilled interviewer, Francis once convinced singer John Denver to go "on-camera" with details of his upcoming DUI trial.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

At least four black women and other minority students have joined sororities at the University of Alabama. The word to reopen the bidding process came after some spoke out about alleged discrimination in the recruiting process. Experts say segregation is illegal yet it's happening at schools across the country. Some see the new pledges as a first step toward change. For others, it's a symbolic gesture.

Robert Siegel talks with Eric Deggans, outgoing TV and media critic for The Tampa Bay Times and incoming TV critic for NPR, about the fall television season. Deggans says a lot of the shows may be new, but they're not entirely original.

Brazil is formulating a bold new plan to protect itself from NSA spying after revelations that the U.S. illegally listened in on conversations between the president and her cabinet, and spied on the state oil company, Petrobras. But experts warn its easier said than done and there are risks inherent with tampering with the internet.

The damage from flooding in Colorado is immense. As the raging rivers overflowed, they spilled into low-lying farm and ranch land wrecking costly equipment, dismantling irrigation systems and stranding livestock. In the near future, it'll be hard for farmers to remain optimistic. Still, as the waters recede, there may be a silver lining to the excess rain further down the line.

Everything former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says gets a tremendous amount of attention, even if she says virtually nothing, says strategist Geoff Garin. And that's not likely to change as the 2016 presidential race gets closer.

Secretary of State John Kerry signed the International Arms Trade Treaty meant to stem the flow of weapons that have fueled civil wars and atrocities. Activists hailed the move, saying it could put the U.S. in a better position to lean on Russia to stop arming Bashar al-Assad's regime. But the Obama administration will have a tough time getting the Senate to approve it.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Bananas are the most popular fruit in America, and demand is growing worldwide, too. But growing bananas requires a lot of pesticides. And a new study shows that some of those chemicals are ending up in caimans living downstream from banana plantations in Costa Rica, where many of the bananas that Americans eat are grown.

The online marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act so people can compare health plans and sign up for health insurance are scheduled to open for business on Oct. 1. As the date approaches, opponents of the administration's health law are ratcheting up their efforts to stop it.

Kenya's interior minister said those who attacked the Nairobi mall were an international group of men, some of whom dressed as women. Kenya's foreign minister said the group included at least three Americans and one woman. Four days after the attack started, we update what is known about the group of terrorists who have held siege at the popular Westgate Mall.

After his daughter Clio was diagnosed with leukemia last summer, Boston-based singer Alastair Moock turned to music. His latest album is called Singing Our Way Through: Songs for the World's Bravest Kids.

Kenyan security forces continue their work at the Nairobi mall where terrorists say they continue to hold hostages the fourth day of the siege. Officials say 67 people are known dead. Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta said the attack was over but added that three floors of the mall had collapsed and bodies remained trapped in the rubble.

A large earthquake shook a remote part of central Pakistan Tuesday, and so far local authorities have only reported a few dozen fatalities so far. But according to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey, the death toll could be far higher. The quake also gave rise to a mysterious island off the coast of Pakistan. The island was likely created by frozen methane that was shaken loose by the shaking. It pushed its way to the surface and created a muddy piece of land that will soon be washed away.

Rapper Klay BBJ's mother says he was arrested and beaten over a song he performed that criticized police. Human Rights Watch says his case is one in a series of prosecutions targeting artists' freedom of speech.

The U.S. Army is about to have tighter restrictions on tattoos for new recruits and for current soldiers. Visible tattoos, ones below the knees, below the elbows, or above the neckline will not be permitted for enlistees, but soldiers with these kinds of tattoos are grandfathered in. Soldier will have to pay to have tattoos that are deemed racist, sexist, or extremist removed. Melissa Block speaks with Josh Smith, the Afghanistan correspondent for Stars and Stripes for more details.

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